A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 223 



17.— Cerchneis tinnunculus, Lin. 



Three males.— JjQxxgih, 13 to 13-8 ; expanse, 28 to 30'2 ; 

 wing, 9-4 to 10 ; tail, &-9 to 6-95 ; tarsus, 1-5 ; tarsus feathered 

 in front, 0-6 to 075 ; bill from gape, 0'8 ; bill from anterior 

 margin of eere, straight, 056 to 0-6 ; length of cere, 0*2 to 

 0-26 ; closed wings short of tail, 0-75 to 1-4 ; weight, 5-5 to 

 5'75ozs. 



Female.— liexigih, 13-6; expanse, 31*0 ; wing, 10-15; tail, 

 6-85 ; tarsus, 1-4 ; tarsus feathered in front, 0-6 ; bill from 

 gape, 0-85 ; bill from anterior margin of cere, 0-56 ; length 

 of cere, 0*2 ; closed wings short of tail, 0*8 ; weight, 6ozs. 



Bill bluish grey, black at tip, and the base of lower mandible, 

 greenish yellow ; cere, gape and orbital skin greenish yellow ; 

 irides dark brown ; feet deep yellow ; claws black. 



The Kestrel is a seasonal visitant to the valley, arrivino- in 

 considerable numbers about October. It is common throuo-h- 

 out the winter in the great valley, the Nawakot district, the 

 Chitlang and Markhu Valleys, and in the Tarai and plains of 

 Nepal ; but it seems to avoid the Sai forest. Nearly all the 

 birds observed were immature, and one of the specimens 

 secured was noticeable for its rich coloration, the black mark- 

 ings on the upper surface being very prominent and exten- 

 sive. 



21.— Astur palumbarius, Lin. 



The Goshawk appears to be only a rare straggler to the 

 valley in winter. It is said to be more common in the hills 

 further north, and trained birds are often seen in Nepal. 



23.— Astur badius, Gm. 



The Shikra, though very common as a trained bird in the 

 valley, does not seem to occur there in the wild state in any 

 considerable numbers. It was noticed only on a few occa- 

 sions in the valley, and once in the Nawakot district in 

 November. 



27.— Aquila nipalensis, Hodgs. 



This Eagle was noticed only once in the valley of Nepal 

 during a period of two years ; the bird was not secured, but 

 it was unquestionably Aguila nipalensis of Hodgson. It is 

 I should say, a rare visitant to the valley. Mr. Hodgson' 

 however, describes his A. nipalensis in ''Asiatic Researches,'' 

 XVIII, Part II, pp. 13-16, and says : ''It is often seen in the 



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